Do you tip a house cleaner?

Author: Deion Bernhard  |  Last update: Saturday, May 17, 2025

Most larger cleaning service companies, like The Maids, will tell you that it is neither required nor expected. If you hire an individual, it is customary to tip 10 to 20% of the cleaning price, assuming you are pleased with the quality of work.

Are you supposed to tip house cleaners?

$15-$20 per service is often considered appropriate, but it never hurts to ask. The company may allow their employees to accept cash tips, or you may be able to provide a tip online. Each cleaning company has its own tipping policies and procedures, so don't be afraid to ask.

How much do you tip a house cleaner if your bill is $500?

While there aren't any set rules for how much you should tip, it's common to tip cleaners 15% to 20% of the cost of house cleaning. But if the house cleaning pros did an excellent job or tackled a particularly tough project, you might consider tipping 25%.

Do you tip house cleaners if they own the business?

There's no need to tip the owner of a business. They set their own rates so they should be charging an amount that is comfortable for them without tips.

What is proper house cleaner etiquette?

The Etiquette of Cleaning for the Cleaners
  • Do: Tidy your counters
  • Don't: Clean your floors
  • Do: Clear clutter from floors
  • Don't: Take out your trash
  • Don't: Do your dishes
  • Don't: Clean with chemicals
  • Don't: Leave out private or dangerous items
  • Do: Know your cleaners won't judge you

Holiday Tipping Guide How Should You Tip Your House Cleaner This Holiday?

Should you leave the house when cleaner comes?

If you stay home when the maids come, you may feel like you are in the way or being intrusive. After all, cleaning is their job, and they may not want you looking over their shoulder the entire time. If you prefer not to feel awkward, it may be best to leave for a couple of hours and allow them to do their job.

Do cleaning ladies do laundry?

Typical responsibilities include vacuuming, dusting, laundry, mopping and waxing floors and changing and laundering linen. Some housekeeper positions also require cooking or food preparation and heavy cleaning, like cleaning windows and furniture.

Is it rude to not tip housekeeping?

You don't have to tip your hotel housekeeper, but these hardworking staff members are often forgotten when it comes to tipping, so the money can go a long way for them.

Am I supposed to tip Molly Maid?

All of our residential housekeepers undergo extensive Molly Maid training to ensure that the quality of our work is always consistent. Do your housecleaners accept tips? While tips aren't expected, we're allowed to accept them.

Do you tip someone who is self-employed?

My overall point is that it is not your job to scrutinize this person's business model and decide what her profit margin should be. If you choose to continue to patronize this business, yes – it is now considered standard to tip the person who cuts your hair, even if that person owns the business.

Is $20 a good tip for house cleaning?

Aaron Seyedian, founder of Well Paid Maids, advises tipping $20 for a smaller house or $40 for a larger house per cleaning. If you have a team of cleaners they can split the tip. If a cleaner is working alone, they can take home the whole tip.

Is $10 a good tip for housekeeping?

For houses and villas, or large suites where there are multiple rooms to clean, consider leaving anywhere from $10 to $20 per night. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the mess, the more you should tip. If you've got toddlers who are hellbent on feeding themselves, an extra $5 bill wouldn't hurt.

How much to tip for 3 hour cleaning?

Professional Cleaning Tip Amounts Per State. Tipping practices can vary depending on where you live. In Illinois, a 12-15% tip is typical for house cleaners, but in higher-cost areas like California or New York, a 10-20% tip is more common due to the already higher base service rates.

Do you tip a self employed cleaner?

With self-employed house cleaners, a gift card rather than a cash tip would be more appropriate as they would be accepting a gift instead of a tip, and nobody turns down gifts. Some will accept tips, however, so it really depends on the individual cleaner.

Do you tip for home services?

A tip is not expected for a one-time service call. However, if you rely on the same person repeatedly, show your appreciation at holiday time (generally from $20 to $100, depending on the frequency and efficacy of the work).

Should I tip my house cleaning lady?

Most larger cleaning service companies, like The Maids, will tell you that it is neither required nor expected. If you hire an individual, it is customary to tip 10 to 20% of the cleaning price, assuming you are pleased with the quality of work.

Why don't house cleaners do windows?

However, housecleaners have a wider specter of responsibilities. While they may do a good job cleaning your windows, they'll never be able to do what an excellently trained window cleaner can. Housecleaners usually don't have the right equipment to do the cleaning job right.

Does Molly Maid change sheets?

If you need help with the organization aspect or weekly or more frequent changing of sheets, we would be more than happy to help out. For your home cleaning needs, contact the professionals at Molly Maid. Each maid services team comprises insured, licensed and uniformed housekeepers who are regularly supervised.

How common is it to tip housekeeping?

The average hourly wage for housekeepers in the U.S. is $14.40, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The American Hotel Association recommends tipping $1-$5 per night and leaving the tip in an envelope or with a note, so it's clear the money is for housekeeping.

What is the number one place Americans forget to tip?

Do you tip at hotels? The No. 1 place where Americans forget to tip but should 'always' leave at least $3, from an etiquette... Every time $5-10 per night.

Is it ever OK not to tip?

As a blanket rule, you don't need to tip anyone who earns a salary or performs a trade. That means you don't have to tip doctors, lawyers, teachers, plumbers or cable technicians.

What are the disadvantages of a house cleaner?

One of the biggest disadvantages is the cost. Hiring a maid service can be fairly expensive, especially if you have a large home. You will also need to factor in the cost of any cleaning supplies that the maid service will need to use.

Do cleaning ladies make money?

In the United States, the median hourly rate for a house cleaner is $16.08. The highest-earning house cleaners make $45,680 annually. Salary ranges vary by state and by years of experience.

What's the difference between a house cleaner and a housekeeper?

Housekeepers perform daily, light cleaning, keeping your home tidier overall on a day-to-day basis, and will wash dishes, do laundry, and pick up clutter. House cleaners specialize in deep cleaning, and generally do not do tasks like laundry, putting things away, or organizing.

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